APPENDIX D: FAQ S 155Appendix D: FAQsGeneral QuestionsQ UESTION A NSWERWhat is Dominion KXII?Dominion KX II is a second generation digital KVM (Keyboard, VideoMouse) switch that enables IT administrators to access and control 16,32, or 64* servers over the network with BIOS-level functionality.Dominion KX II is completely hardware and OS-independent; userscan troubleshoot and reconfigure servers even when servers are down.At the rack, Dominion KX II provides the same functionality,convenience, space savings, and cost savings as traditional analogKVM switches. However, Dominion KX II also integrates theindustry’s highest-performing KVM-over-IP technology, allowingmultiple administrators to access server KVM consoles from anynetworked workstation.How does Dominion KXII differ from remotecontrol software?When using Dominion KX II remotely, at first glance, the interfacemay seem similar to remote control software such as pcAnywhereTM,Windows® Terminal Services / Remote Desktop, VNC, etc. However,because Dominion KX II is not a software but a hardware solution, it’smuch more powerful:• OS- and hardware-independent – Dominion KX II can be usedto manage servers running many popular operating systems,including Intel ® , Sun® , PowerPC running Windows, Linux ®,SolarisTM, etc.• State-independent / Agentless – Dominion KX II does notrequire the managed server OS to be up and running, nor doesit require any special software to be installed on the managedserver.• Out-of-Band – Even if the managed server’s own networkconnection is unavailable, it can still be managed throughDominion KX II.• BIOS-level access – Even if the server is hung at boot up,requires booting to safe mode, or requires system BIOSparameters to be altered, Dominion KX II still works flawlesslyto enable these configurations to be made.How do the new featuresof the Dominion KX IIcompare to the KX I?Dominion KX II has many new and exciting features, including virtualmedia, dual power, dual gigabit Ethernet, common Web-based userinterfaces, next generation local port, etc.How do I migrate fromthe Dominion KX I toDominion KX II?In general, KX I customers can continue to use their existing switchesfor many years. As their data centers expand, customers can purchaseand use the new KX II models. Raritan’s centralized managementappliance, CommandCenter® Secure Gateway, and the Multi-PlatformClient (MPC) both support KX I and KX II switches seamlessly.Will my existing KX ICIMs work with theDominion KX II switch?Yes, existing KX I CIMs will work with the Dominion KX II switch. Inaddition, select Paragon CIMs will work with the KX II. This providesan easy migration to KX II from Paragon I customers who wish toswitch to KVM-over-IP.
